ACDSee Photo Manager 2009

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Can you have more than one catalog?

(14 posts)

  • lorie_wa
    Member

    I have a huge digital scrapbooking collection and an equally huge photo collection. I would like to have them in separate catalogs, as they have completely different categories, not to mention I do not want to see pictures when I am looking for scrapbooking elements and vice versa. So can I create another catalog and switch between the two? This is something that is very easy to do in Adobe's Photoshop Elements Organizer; I hope it can be done in ACDSee PM 2009...

    Posted On September 9, 2009 - 03:35 AM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • Marc Sabatella
    Moderator

    It's not "easy", but is doable.  You can select the catalog to use via tools-options-database, but it requires a restart of the application.  Another option is to have different users accounts.   Another would be to have a script that moves your desired catalog into position before starting ACDSee.

    Posted On September 9, 2009 - 03:54 AM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • lorie_wa
    Member

    Thanks, Marc. I'll give that a try. If you have any input on new features for upcoming versions, maybe this could be something to suggest -- easy switching between databases. Especially if for some reason the default db goes missing or ACDSee can't figure out where it is...

    The whole idea of the program crashing if it can't find the database is kind of annoying. (And it is bothersome to have to run that registry cleaner to even be able to open the program... and then you have to reset all of your preferences because the reg cleaner wipes them out...) That is most surely a bug not a feature, at least I hope the programmers don't think it is a good thing!

    Thanks again!

    Posted On September 9, 2009 - 04:35 AM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • lorie_wa
    Member

    Another would be to have a script that moves your desired catalog into position before starting ACDSee.

    Quick question: what kind of script did you mean? Is there such a thing or would one have to be a programmer to figure out how to write it?

    lorie

    Posted On September 9, 2009 - 04:39 AM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • Marc Sabatella
    Moderator

    lorie_wa said:

    Quick question: what kind of script did you mean? Is there such a thing or would one have to be a programmer to figure out how to write it?

    I was thinking of a basic MS-DOS "batch" file ('.bat"), creatable in Notepad, that just had the commands to move the folders around.  Seems others have posted about doing this in these forums before, but I've never tried it.  Creating batch files is very easy you don't have to be a programmer.  They just look like the commands you'd type into an MS-DOS command window.

    Posted On September 9, 2009 - 05:23 AM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • newname
    Member

    Here's another attempt to do this. I've tried it with acdsee v3beta2 and don't know if this works with other versions.

    First you need shellexec because acadsee does not start from command line directly.
    Run regedit to find the place where acdsee stores it's DPath, export it end edit the export. The result will look like this:

    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ACD Systems\ACDSee Pro\30Beta2]
    "DBPath"="path\to\your\profile\\ACD Systems\\Catalogs\\30ProBeta2\\Default"

    Change the path to point to the places where you want your databases and save them as acd_a.reg, acd_b.reg ... One reg file for each database.

    Create a new textfile and cut-and-paste this:

    %echo off

    rem path to the needed files
    set pfiles="path\to\your\supportfiles"

    rem path to your acdsee
    set pacd = "path\to\your\acdsee"

    set
    echo ACDSee
    echo Choose your database
    echo a: Database A
    echo b: Database B
    echo c: Database C
    echo.

    set INPUT=
    set /P INPUT=Type input: %=%

    if NOT "%INPUT%" == "a" goto cont1
    regedit /s %pfiles%acd_a.reg
    goto run

    :cont1
    if NOT "%INPUT%" == "b" goto cont2
    regedit /s %pfiles%acd_b.reg
    goto run

    :cont2
    if NOT "%INPUT%" == "c" goto cont3
    regedit /s %pfiles%acd_c.reg

    :run
    cd %pacd%
    %pfiles%ShellExec.exe ACDSeePro3.exe

    :cont3

    Edit the two variables and save this as myacdsee.cmd. Move the shellexec.exe, cmd and reg files to your support files directory. Run myacdsee.cmd.

    newname

    BTW. v2b3 has an option to keep acdsee running in taskbar notification area. Be sure to have this switched off.

    Posted On September 9, 2009 - 10:21 AM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • lorie_wa
    Member

    Thanks newname...

    This is just a little beyond what I want to do right at the moment (I'll try it just before I get ready to wipe my hard drive and start fresh, in case it fouls something up...) But it certainly underscores the need for ACDSee to address this in an easy, painless manner.

    Guys, you are missing out on a whole sector of potential users, most of whom would not be comfortable messing around with the registry. We would just like a program to handle our digital assets smoothly, efficiently and without a lot of hassle... It's almost there; a little tweaking of the way the program handles its database would make it hands-down the best solution.

    Posted On September 9, 2009 - 04:40 PM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • newname
    Member

    You're right. A build in feature would be much easier to use and probably more secure than my lazy afternoon hack. But it was a pleasure to write my first BAT after many many years. Thanks for the opportunity.

    newname

    Posted On September 9, 2009 - 08:56 PM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • Sam Dring
    Moderator

    If I remember correctly (I often don't!) someone did a batch file renaming the different cat folders rather than touching the registry.

    Posted On September 9, 2009 - 09:59 PM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • newname
    Member

    You think the registry is for alchemists and wizards only, don't you :)

    With renaming  cat folders you also have to keep track what cat folder has been renamed to 'default' in a previous run. Or do renaming the default folder back  to its real name after acdsee has terminated.

    newname

    Posted On September 10, 2009 - 08:51 AM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • Sam Dring
    Moderator

    newname said:

    You think the registry is for alchemists and wizards only, don't you :)

    With renaming  cat folders you also have to keep track what cat folder has been renamed to 'default' in a previous run. Or do renaming the default folder back  to its real name after acdsee has terminated.

    newname

    Your point 1:  No - not ONLY those, sorcerers and magicians also!

    Your point 2:  Suspect the latter - if only I could remember!

     

    Posted On September 10, 2009 - 04:17 PM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • LV_Bill
    Member

    If I remember correctly (I often don't!) someone did a batch file renaming the different cat folders rather than touching the registry.

    Sam your memory is still working just fine.  You and I discussed the Cat renaming approach some time ago.  I've been using it for years as an alternative to touching the registry (I'm chicken),  The renaming technique has worked just fine for me, but it too requires a short batch file.  If anyone wants to know the details, just post back in this thread.

    Bill

    Posted On September 10, 2009 - 05:15 PM (2 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • lorie_wa
    Member

    Bill,

    I would love to see the renaming batch file... This is the major dislike I have of the ACDSee program!

    Thanks in advance

    Posted On October 21, 2009 - 04:16 AM (1 month ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • LV_Bill
    Member

    lorie_wa -    One of my batch files is below, but you need to know a little about my setup before it will make any sense.

    1.  I have two image libraries - one on my C:\ drive, and one on an external HD on E:\.  This batch  file lets me select which one to use by entering the drive letter.  Then it launches ACDSee with the appropriate database.  FYI, ACDSee11 is the real name for PM 2009 which this batch file is using.

    2.  My two ACDSee databases hase been moved to the ACD Systems program folder.  The active database folder is always named Cache.  The inactive folder is renamed Cache-C or Cache-E.  Both Cache folders need to exist before you start.  Obviously you can change the file locations to where ever you choose.   The Cache folders can be empty, but they need to exist.

    3.  The C:\ option launches to ACDSee's default folder (in setup).  The E:\ option launches a specific folder e:\Bak_images

    Post back if you have any questions.  Good Luck, Bill

    @echo off
    prompt $p$g
    echo.
    echo SPECIFY ACDSEE CACHE
    echo.
    choice /c:cex /n "Enter Cache ID: "
    echo.
    if errorlevel 3 goto ESCAPE
    if errorlevel 2 goto RENAME-E
    if errorlevel 1 goto RENAME-C
    goto ESCAPE

    :RENAME-C
    if not exist c:\progra~1\ACDsys~1\ACDSee\11.0\Cache-C\nul goto START-C
    rename c:\progra~1\ACDsys~1\ACDSee\11.0\Cache\ Cache-E
    rename c:\progra~1\ACDsys~1\ACDSee\11.0\Cache-C\ Cache
    goto START-C

    :RENAME-E
    if not exist c:\progra~1\ACDsys~1\ACDSee\11.0\Cache-E\nul goto START-E
    rename c:\progra~1\ACDsys~1\ACDSee\11.0\Cache\ Cache-C
    rename c:\progra~1\ACDsys~1\ACDSee\11.0\Cache-E\ Cache
    goto START-E

    :START-E
    start ACDSee11.exe e:\Bak_images
    goto ESCAPE

    :START-C
    start ACDSee11.exe
    :ESCAPE

    Posted On October 21, 2009 - 06:11 AM (1 month ago) (Permalink to this post)

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